Send Someone Else!
 
(God addressing Moses) “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ So He said, "I will certainly be with you” (Exo 3:10-12).
 
“Then Moses said… ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." So the LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man's mouth…. Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.’ But he said, "O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send” (Exo 4:10-13).
 
Although Moses had valid reasons for doubting himself, what was the real issue? He focused more on what he couldn’t do as opposed to what God could do! (“With God, nothing shall be impossible” – Lk 1:37.)
 
In the end, however, Moses freed Israel from Egyptian bondage with God’s help. God knew exactly what he was doing when he chose Moses for this job.
 
Jesus commanded, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt. 28:19-20). As God once told Moses to “Go”, Jesus instructed you and me to "Go" as well.
 
That doesn’t mean that each of us must travel to a distant country to share the good news of Jesus Christ. However, we can “go” down our street, to our workplace, school, club or nearby shopping center and look for opportunities to mention Jesus.
 
Instead of saying, “Send someone else”, why not say, “Here am I Lord, send me!” Remember – Moses was not alone when he stood before Pharoah, and you and I will not be alone when we encounter others. After giving His Great Commission, Jesus added, "And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20).
 
Be a light for Christ in 2025!
 
Dennis

Does it Make Any Difference?
 
“He (King Jeroboam) went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings” (1 Kings 12:33).
 
It appears that King Jeroboam’s plan was to make the worship at Bethel similar (but not identical) to God’s pattern for worship in Jerusalem. For instance, the location of Jeroboam’s worship was similar - Bethel was only 10 miles from Jerusalem. The time of worship was not too different. The Feast of Booths was on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Jeroboam’s feast was just a month later on the fifteenth day of the eighth month.
 
Jeroboam, however, made numerous modifications to God’s pattern for worship. He made these changes in spite of plain warnings in the Law. Consider Deut. 12:8-11, “You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes… But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the Lord your God is giving you… you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, and all your finest vow offerings that you vow to the Lord.
 
Tragically, Jeroboam disregarded God’s warning. He chose to do what was right in his own eyes. He built a calf idol for the people to worship. That was just the beginning.” Was he so deluded that he believed that God would be pleased with that kind of worship?
 
Yet the same thing occurs constantly throughout today’s religious world. If you ask the “Worship Leader” (in many churches) as to where he/she gets the authority to feature in worship:
·         A highly regarded Christian band…
·         A “Top 10” recording artist, backed by his personal band and vocalists…
·         A “remarkable” stringed quartet…
·         An internationally acclaimed magician…
·         An unconventional artist displaying his unique talent…
 
You will not likely hear an answer based on New Testament teachings. But you may hear one the following, “Our Worship Committee decides those things” Or “We like to try things to draw young people” Or “As long as we are sincere, God must approve of what we feature in worship.” Or “Does it make any difference as long as we are worshipping God?” (Some of these answers could have come straight from Jeroboam’s worship playbook.)
 
If it matters enough to God to reveal a pattern for worship in the New Testament, we should love and respect Him enough to learn what He has revealed for us, then follow that pattern as best we can.
 
Be a Light for Christ in 2025!


Dennis

Heed the Warning


At 8:30 p.m. on May 22, 1960, tsunami sirens sounded in Hilo, Hawaii. They sounded for five and a half hours, but many people paid no heed. They assumed that it was a false alarm. What they did not know, however, was that the night before, a 9.5 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of Chile. This generated a tremendous wave that was aimed directly at Hilo. At 1:30 a.m. on May 23, the tsunami impacted the island. Sixty-one people lost their lives, not to mention hundreds that were seriously injured, along with considerable property damage. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that all of the residents had plenty of warning. Despite that, many of them chose to disregard the sirens.


Perhaps part of the blame lies with human nature. It’s all-to-easy to disregard important warnings. Our doctor may tell us to lose weight and eat healthier, yet we head straight for Dairy Queen, Dunkin Doughnuts or Little Ceasars. We may be advised to get more exercise, yet the couch or recliner typically wins out. We know that cigarettes permanently damage our lungs, yet we purchase another package or carton. We know that we should save money for an emergency, but we prefer to spend our money on more things. Despite receiving plenty of warnings, by the time we realize our mistake(s) it may be too late.


These things, however, pale in comparison with the crucial warning that millions of people are disregarding – “…the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Pe 3:10). One day the Lord WILL return and we will ALL stand before the judgement seat of Christ, ready or not.


Jesus may come any moment. If you are not prepared, don’t delay. If you have not already obeyed the gospel, do so today. If you have wandered away from Jesus, return to Him today. Don’t be among those who will say, “Almost…. but lost!”


Be a Light for Christ in 2025!
 
Dennis